Thoughts on Giveaways

[MattyGreen]

I'm was thinking about the idea of giveaways and if they're something worth doing. For example, do they help grown or just help gain empty subscribers who just want the prize. Create a stronger community or promote make people feel resentful that they didn't win.

What are your thoughts? I'd love to have a good discussion about this

 

[Reftaco Comedy]

They are probably a good way of thanking your subscribers that you've already got. I don't think they will really do anything to grow you channel however as anyone who subscribes because of it won't actually be interested in your videos.

 

[Gaijillionaire]

I think it's create a lot of empty subs. I have nothing to back that up. Just my feeling. Like people that listen to a radio station just to be caller 10. Good in short term. It also kind of looks desperate to me. Yea I'm grateful for people who watch me too, but I think it goes past a line. Might be hard to explain but I'll try to be short. My feeling is that a channel should stand by its videos and that's about it. If the videos you make aren't pulling in people then giving stuff away won't work in the end.

 

[MattyGreen]

They are probably a good way of thanking your subscribers that you've already got. I don't think they will really do anything to grow you channel however as anyone who subscribes because of it won't actually be interested in your videos.

In regards to not being able to grow your channel. I also think that it may not help your channel however, would it help you gain exposure since you're giving people a reason other than your channel to come over and take a look. For example, if 10 people come join because you're running a give away and 1 person enjoys what they see and become a fan does that make it worth it?

I think it's create a lot of empty subs. I have nothing to back that up. Just my feeling. Like people that listen to a radio station just to be caller 10. Good in short term. It also kind of looks desperate to me. Yea I'm grateful for people who watch me too, but I think it goes past a line. Might be hard to explain but I'll try to be short. My feeling is that a channel should stand by its videos and that's about it. If the videos you make aren't pulling in people then giving stuff away won't work in the end.

In regards to looking desperate. I think that it can look desperate if you present it in a way that causes it to come across that way. Do you think there is a way to present it in a way that is more as a nice thing to do for your community or is just the pure idea of giveaways a sign of desperation to you?

 

[Gaijillionaire]

In regards to not being able to grow your channel. I also think that it may not help your channel however, would it help you gain exposure since you're giving people a reason other than your channel to come over and take a look. For example, if 10 people come join because you're running a give away and 1 person enjoys what they see and become a fan does that make it worth it?


In regards to looking desperate. I think that it can look desperate if you present it in a way that causes it to come across that way. Do you think there is a way to present it in a way that is more as a nice thing to do for your community or is just the pure idea of giveaways a sign of desperation to you?

If it worked like this: you knew each subs mailing address and you could send somethings randomly as a surprise, I think it'd be great. Of course it's impossible that's way. But the whole "hey subscribe to me and mayyyybe you'll win and I'll send you a kitkat" just seems desperate to me. I guess it depends on how each channel does it. Yet the ones I've seen say like "500 subs give away!!" Get something like 300-400 views and the rest of the channels videos have 75-100 views. So for me that just doesn't work. It'd be better to just communicate directly and build a loyal following even if it takes more time.

 

[MattyGreen]

If it worked like this: you knew each subs mailing address and you could send somethings randomly as a surprise, I think it'd be great. Of course it's impossible that's way. But the whole "hey subscribe to me and mayyyybe you'll win and I'll send you a kitkat" just seems desperate to me. I guess it depends on how each channel does it. Yet the ones I've seen say like "500 subs give away!!" Get something like 300-400 views and the rest of the channels videos have 75-100 views. So for me that just doesn't work. It'd be better to just communicate directly and build a loyal following even if it takes more time.

Good points and thank you for sharing your thoughts

 

[Gaijillionaire]

Thanks. Maybe another way to think of it is like being the coolest kid in school. Everyone wants to be him or her or be around them. Part of that is keeping a correct distance to allow that appeal to be there. The coolest kid may be a total jagoff but he's still the cool kidand everyone hangs in what he says and does. Meanwhile the nicest kid in school will let you play with his dad's crossbow flamethrower if you'll just be his friend. But then you're really not his friend, you're just in it for the benefits. Maybe that's the best way to say it for me

 

[MattyGreen]

Thanks. Maybe another way to think of it is like being the coolest kid in school. Everyone wants to be him or her or be around them. Part of that is keeping a correct distance to allow that appeal to be there. The coolest kid may be a total jagoff but he's still the cool kidand everyone hangs in what he says and does. Meanwhile the nicest kid in school will let you play with his dad's crossbow flamethrower if you'll just be his friend. But then you're really not his friend, you're just in it for the benefits. Maybe that's the best way to say it for me

Nice way of saying it! A lot of these things come down to perception it seems like, you wanna do something nice but not be seen to trying to buy someones attention. Like buying your friend lunch one time since he's your buddy rather than him buying him lunch so he hangs with you.

 

[Brainbean]

I have done it in the past, I probably will again but for milestones, like 1k subs, etc... I definitely notice a few people that subbed and now comment on most of my reviews asking when the next giveaway is going to be. I also think they are watching my videos though because didn't advertise the giveaway. I just added it into the review. So people still had to watch my video on their own to find it.

 

[Kate's Adventures]

I think the name is pretty accurate - it's a "give away" and although they can be fun to host, I don't really believe they add much more to your channel.
I've considered having one in the past to commemorate important milestones but I'm not sure how I'd feel if somebody I didn't recognise won. I think the idea of sending random gifts to people who interact regularly is so fun, I'd love to do that sometime.